Tom Stimson 공개
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Are you looking to take your live events production business to the next level? Do you want to learn from industry experts and gain insights into the latest business trends and strategies? Welcome to the Intentional Success Podcast, where we provide you with the tools and resources you need to help your business grow and scale… on purpose. Hosted by industry veteran Tom Stimson, each episode answers unpacks the best practices and secrets to achieving intentional success. From marketing and s ...
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Who is your ideal customer? In this episode, I explain why this seemingly simple choice has massive implications for your business model. Discover whether your business is designed to serve clients (optimizing for revenue) or customers (optimizing for resources), and why trying to serve both usually means doing neither well. In a balanced, scalable…
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We all know managing pricing variables is a nightmare. If you can’t raise your rental or labor prices without creating a firestorm of resistance from key customers and a reluctant sales team, you have a transactional problem. You’re a valuable service business, not just a rental company. https://www.trstimson.com/you-should-charge-more/…
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In this no-nonsense episode, I tackle the economic headwinds we’re facing. Unlike the pandemic, this downturn won’t eliminate work, but it will shift power back to buyers. I share practical strategies to weather the storm: revisiting cash flow projections, calculating realistic break-even revenue, making tough staffing decisions, and having crucial…
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I used to live for RFPs. Requests for proposals were my mainstay. I didn’t have to do any sales work. The fax machine went off, the emails came in (sometimes they showed up in the mail), and I’d crank out a proposal and send it back. It was so easy doing business back in the day. https://www.trstimson.com/stop-wasting-time-on-bad-rfp/…
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In my latest episode, I unpack the tariffs that could hit our industry as hard as the pandemic did five years ago. I cut through the uncertainty to deliver straight talk about what’s coming and how to prepare. If you haven’t achieved a balanced, scalable business model yet, you’re running out of time. Learn why maintaining low overhead, focusing on…
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A quick walk through any warehouse operation will tell me a lot about your company's relationship with process and organization. You can't prep a great show from a disorganized warehouse. https://www.trstimson.com/warehouse-operations-handbook/저자 The Stimson Group
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Stop letting “value add” become "free work”! In this episode, I explore why the humble “project manager” title could be costing you serious money. Learn how elevating your titles to Producer, Executive Producer, and Technical Director can transform client perception and boost your bottom line. This isn’t about padding bills — it’s about providing A…
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Back when I managed teams, I kept a stack of resumes on the corner of my desk. During interviews, candidates would see that pile and realize they weren’t the only person I was talking to. I don’t know if it was effective, but I enjoyed nodding toward that stack while asking, “Tell me more about why you’d be a great fit for us.” Interviewing sales c…
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Asking “Where’s my reward?” after decades in business? In this episode, I share the five things every owner needs (cash flow, profit, growth, satisfaction, and harmony), why solving cash flow problems means making tough decisions now, and strategies to bring harmony back to your team. Your reward should be a business that works for you — not the ot…
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I studied martial arts for many years. I learned multiple disciplines, earned various black belts, and instructed newcomers. In martial arts, particularly when working with teenagers, we often discuss “punching above your weight.” Businesses “punch above their weight,” too. A client of mine from years ago built his business on punching above his we…
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Ever been asked, “Who’s better than you?” This seemingly simple question took me years to truly understand — and it became a turning point for my business. In this episode, I break down the 10 tiers of AV excellence, from basic “meatball AV” to those mythical Level 10 shows where everything exceeds expectations. You’ll learn exactly where your comp…
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I keep talking about marketing, but you need to hear this one more time. Most AV companies loathe marketing, but you just can’t do without it. It solves expensive problems before they surface. https://www.trstimson.com/marketing-for-live-event-companies/저자 The Stimson Group
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Does your business have a look, or does it have a soul? In this episode, I explore what your company reveals about itself when you think no one’s watching. From cable management to proposal design, every detail speaks volumes to your clients. Discover why over-complicating processes might be hurting you, when precision matters more than exactness, …
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I know you often feel like your business is in crisis, but it’s not. You’re objectively alright. You’re in control. Remind yourself of that today. Upgrade your next flight. Stay in a nicer hotel. Celebrate your success. You’ve come farther than 99% of all entrepreneurs. https://www.trstimson.com/business-spending-habits/…
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My next Jumpstart Workshop hits Columbus on April 22–23, and it’ll be unlike anything you’ve experienced before. Join me for a behind-the-scenes shop crawl of three major production companies, hands-on roundtables, and practical business strategies you can implement immediately. From marketing to operations, finance to talent recruitment — we’ll ta…
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When meeting new business owners, I ask direct questions: How did you get started? Where are you now? What concerns you most? What’s your exit strategy? The answers to the lattermost question follow predictable patterns. Business owners over 50 usually say, “I’ve thought about it, but I don’t have one,” or “I really need to come up with one.” The y…
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Do you run away when someone mentions the “S” word? In this episode, I tackle the uncomfortable truth about sales in the AV industry. If you claim you don’t have salespeople, you’re missing the point. Sales is a process, not a title. I break down the three dysfunctional models most companies use, why project managers are just band-aids for a broken…
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I often feel like a doctor, and the business owners I help are patients in my waiting room. They come in to share their problems and feelings. I listen and study their business pains, which reveal whether they use their overhead expenses correctly. Boring advice? Maybe. Like diet and exercise recommendations, you might think you already know this, …
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In this straight-talking episode, I tackle a truth you can’t avoid: you’re in the marketing business. Discover the three mindset shifts that’ll transform your marketing, plus a no-nonsense “bare minimum” plan anyone can implement. I explain how to be findable, understandable, and focused on outcomes that matter to your clients. Stop letting potenti…
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I can’t count how many conversations I’ve been a part of that started with complaints about in-house AV contracts. The arguments about how venue exclusivity unfairly hurts smaller local companies more than larger national suppliers haven’t changed in 40 years. Heck, some of the same players are still in the game. But here’s a tough pill to swallow:…
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Think you need more staff to scale your business? Success often comes from having fewer people doing less, not more. Through the lens of a restaurant kitchen, this episode explores how top companies stay lean while delivering excellent results. Learn why “we’re too busy” signals deeper issues, discover why qualified workers seem scarce (its’ not a …
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Let me make a bold statement: Rental pricing is for rental companies. If you do shows for a living, your responsibility is for the show to work. People need to see and hear, and you need to make your cues. If an item fails and your show fails, there’s a 90% chance you won’t get paid — because you’re responsible for the outcome. Shows are not rental…
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In this candid look at what buyers really want, I reveal why most companies fail the RFP test before they even start. Beyond the requests for designs and budgets lies a sophisticated evaluation of your company’s value. Learn the 10 hidden criteria that actually determine who wins the project and why your perfect proposal might be sending all the wr…
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I’m surprised whenever I encounter certain employee incentive programs still operating in our industry. What surprises me more is that people haven’t recognized that these programs interfere with their organizations’ success. When asked why they keep these programs running, I’m often told, “It’s a best practice.” Often, this comes from the person b…
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What happens after the tech is set up? Smart show producers don’t stand around — they transform spaces into client sanctuaries. Learn practical, zero-cost ways to wow clients through thoughtful planning and better use of “dead time.” From turning backstage into a presenter haven to making wireless mic management feel like a VIP experience, this epi…
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Many companies in our industry blame “seasonality” for their slow periods. Let’s be clear: Seasonality means demand fluctuates — it doesn’t mean business stops altogether. Companies that focus on sales year-round stay busy regardless of the season. https://www.trstimson.com/slow-season-is-a-sales-problem/…
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Not every customer buys the same way — and that costs you money. In this episode, I unpack the three main buyer types you’ll meet and show you how to spot them fast. Learn why Confidence Buyers trust your expertise, Value Buyers need clarity, and Control Buyers think they know more than you do. Get practical tips for crafting proposals that speak t…
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When people ask what’s changed over my 40 years in live events, I think back to the 1980s, when rental returns were stellar and profit margins seemed unlimited. As Burke would explain, one little shift changed everything, creating ripples we still feel today. https://www.trstimson.com/1980s-decision-that-still-hurts-live-event-companies/…
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“The client won’t pay that much...” “I can skip the proposal presentation...” Sound familiar? In this episode, I tackle the biggest roadblock in sales: the negotiations happening in your own head. Instead of following proven steps that lead to better deals, you might be letting self-doubt and assumptions run the show. Learn how to structure proposa…
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For many of us, turning down business is unthinkable. We’re wired to chase revenue, cover our overhead, and keep our gear working. When a client calls, we always find a way to make their request happen. But something changed in 2022. I watched demand exceed supply for the first time in my 40-year career. Event companies and supply chains were small…
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Is your top sales performer’s magic touch starting to fade? In this episode, I share a real-world story about a consulting firm whose star salesperson saw their close rate plummet from 80% to 50%. But it wasn’t about talent — it was about process. Discover a proven three-call system that turns costly leads into committed customers, and learn why se…
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If you’re like most businesses in our industry, you’re facing a full pipeline and subsequent hiring challenges. You’re rushing to document processes, hoping to expedite onboarding while still doing high-quality work. But what if you’re approaching hiring backward? https://www.trstimson.com/process-documentation-reimagined/…
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Is your event pricing stuck in the past? In this straight-talking episode, I debunk the myth that shorter events should cost less. Follow along as I share a real story about a client who never updated his pre-pandemic prices, and discover why moving to a “one day = one week” pricing model might be the key to better profitability. You’ll learn why q…
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Talent is the most valuable resource you deliver to your customers. Average talent is a commodity. Exceptional talent is priceless. Think about it. How much more value can you add to equipment? Or drawings, timesheets, or your sales process? https://www.trstimson.com/process-documentation/저자 The Stimson Group
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Still playing the RFP game in 2025? In this eye-opening episode, I explore why RFPs might be holding you back from success. From a shocking story about a major pharma company’s misguided attempt to “stop suppliers from making money” to practical strategies for breaking free from the order-taker trap, this episode is your wake-up call. Whether you’r…
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Let’s face a hard truth: Rental prices in our industry are made up. There’s no standard pricing model other than what a group of suppliers devolved through local competition. For instance, when every company in town rented the same item for $400 per week, that became the market price. We convinced ourselves these prices were correct through three t…
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The live events industry is at a crossroads, and I’ve made a difficult but necessary decision: I can no longer support the traditional rental-think business model. I announced this in July of 2023, and over the past 18 months, I’ve worked tirelessly to help companies transition away from this outdated approach. Now, it’s time for me to focus on own…
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Recently, I worked with a business owner whose story might sound familiar. Despite hearing clients tell him other owners would charge more for his services, he couldn’t bring himself to raise his prices past what he charged last year. Not because his clients wouldn’t pay it, but because he didn’t believe he was worth it. This isn’t just about prici…
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Stop chasing those massive “windfall” projects that stretch your team thin and trap you in a feast-or-famine cycle. In this episode, learn why turning down business could be your smartest move in 2025. You’ll discover how to spot revenue patterns that hurt your profitability, build a sales funnel that attracts ideal clients, and price your services…
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Whenever I discuss marketing strategies with clients, the conversation inevitably turns to the buyer’s journey. Specifically, we explore how potential buyers find their way to that crucial entry point with your company — and what happens next. The landscape is shifting. The traditional buyer’s journey that served us for decades is becoming obsolete…
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Stop treating your business like a rental company. In this week’s episode, discover how to transform your operation by rethinking your planning team — starting with just ONE key move that could revitalize your profitability. Learn how to build killer showbooks, free yourself from constant firefighting, and scale your business without the chaos. Whe…
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The forecast looks bright for 2025, with many of my clients projecting revenue increases of 10–25% compared to 2024. After experiencing some softness in the corporate events market during the latter half of this year, this projected growth presents opportunities — and a few hidden challenges. Let’s explore four ways to capitalize on this growth whi…
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Think you’re running an AV business? Think again. Get ready for some tough love as I break down three essential steps to transform your business in 2025 — including why your labor rates need a comma. Learn why doubling your replacement costs is crucial for scaling your business and why your best clients actually expect these changes. Warning: This …
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The “race to the bottom” is a mindset where businesses compete solely on price, sacrificing quality and value. Think you’re not competing? Think again. Most companies are racing to the bottom — they just don’t realize it. https://www.trstimson.com/value-in-honest-relationships/저자 The Stimson Group
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Think you’ve got a “pain in the ass” client? It might be worse than that. In this episode, we’re tackling the return of Bad Faith Buyers in our industry. These aren’t just difficult clients having a bad day. They’re strategic players who avoid payment and shift blame. Learn how to spot their telltale signs (like that mysterious “just one more revis…
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The best work happens when we can discuss what services cost and what’s possible. When both sides are open about money, we can focus on getting a great show done instead of playing pricing games. I wrote a blog post about this back in 2022 when we were in a seller’s market. 2024 has seen the return of a buyer’s market, but the same principle applie…
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Do you brag about being a “national company” while secretly wondering if you really are one? In this episode, I bust the myths about going national, reveal why chasing cross-country work could be killing your margins, and show you how to charge what you’re really worth (both at home and away). Whether you’re getting those “I didn’t know you travele…
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In my coaching calls, one conversation comes up more often than any other: marketing challenges. It makes sense. We spend our days getting shows done, but nothing about rigging a stage or mixing audio translates to marketing expertise. Shopping for marketing services is overwhelming. No two marketing agencies do the same thing, and “marketing” cove…
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Are you overcomplicating your events business? In this episode, we challenge the industry's obsession with complexity and explore how our "rental mindset" might be holding us back from success. Learn a revolutionary approach to estimating that could transform your sales process and find out why packages might be the key to giving customers what the…
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Let’s tackle another set of terms that might be even more insidious because they’re ingrained in how we think about running our businesses. These words and phrases don’t just affect how we talk to customers. They shape how we organize our companies and measure our success. https://www.trstimson.com/the-strategic-shift/…
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